SOUTHBRIDGE, Mass., December 3, 2013 – Harrington Hospital in Southbridge, Mass., has been named a 2013 Top Hospital by The Leapfrog Group, an influential independent national hospital rating organization.
Harrington is one of 55 so-called urban hospitals nationwide and one of only five in Massachusetts to rank as a 2013 Top Hospital. In addition to the 55 urban hospitals, Leapfrog also designated 22 rural hospitals and 13 childrens hospitals as Top Hospitals. The list of all urban, rural and childrens hospitals earning Top Hospital honors totals 90 nationwide, with only seven from Massachusetts. The 2013 Top Hospitals list was closely culled from a record number of 1,324 hospitals voluntarily participating in the Leapfrog Hospital Survey.
Widely cited as the nations most competitive hospital quality award, the Top Hospitals designation recognizes hospitals that deliver the highest quality care by preventing medical errors, reducing mortality for high-risk procedures like heart bypass surgery, and reducing readmissions for patients being treated for conditions like pneumonia and heart attack.
“Patient care is our Number 1 priority. Harrington works hard every day to deliver the highest quality care possible,” said Edward H. Moore, President and CEO of Harrington Hospital. “Our staff is always working to improve the care we provide patients. We conduct regular organizational huddles multiple times per week to review and address any quality of care or potential safety issues. Many of our clinical departments conduct a daily safety huddle as well. We believe this is making a positive difference.”
“The field of hospitals considered for this years elite distinction was more competitive than ever, proving that more hospitals across the country are making quality their top priority,” said Leah Binder, President & CEO of Leapfrog. “The larger group of rural hospitals represented, including several critical access hospitals, shows us that any hospital in America can achieve the highest standards of quality and safety, and any community, no matter how small, can benefit from top-notch health care.”
The Leapfrog Hospital Survey sets the highest bar for comparing hospitals performance on the national standards of safety, quality and efficiency that are most relevant to consumers and purchasers of care. The survey provides the most comprehensive picture of how patients fare, what resources are used to care for patients and how management promotes safety and quality. To qualify for this honor, eligible hospitals must also earn an “A” from Leapfrogs Hospital Safety Score, which grades hospitals based on expert analysis of infections, injuries and medical errors.
Harrington has earned an “A” in each of the last three Leapfrog Hospital Safety Score Surveys.
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